ISLAMABAD: Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah on Tuesday told the Senate that “seven to eight thousand misguided people” were receiving terror training in Afghanistan with “funding from India and Israel” and carrying out attacks in Pakistan.
However, he made it clear that there would be no compromise on Pakistan’s resolve to eliminate terrorism. He was responding to the criticism and concern expressed by the JUIF leader Senator Attaur Rehman over the security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
At one point, Atta wondered whether Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had been “handed over to terrorists”, as he accused the government of showing indifference to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s security situation. He claimed that the government’s entire focus was on legislation though it was in no way more important than the lives of the people of KP. “Why has our blood turned white? Why is there no concern for KP?”
He referred to the recent attacks in Lakki Marwat and Bannu and alleged the provincial chief minister was “still out on tours”. Atta remarked, “Why are Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s conditions not being given importance?”
Taking the floor, Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry emphasized that every terrorist incident had been condemned in the House. “I don’t believe our hearts don’t ache for these incidents,” he said, calling the attacks on police in Bannu and Lakki Marwat “cowardly”. The minister pointed out that intelligence-based operations (IBOs) were under way and rejected the impression that any province was being targeted. He maintained that terrorists will be defeated. He also reminded the opposition members that an incident had also occurred in Rawalpindi and asked whether the suicide blast in Tarlai was in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Rana Sanaullah said he respected the JUIF senator’s patriotism and said KP and Balochistan were provinces of patriotic Pakistanis. He also emphasised that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had made it clear that Afghanistan must choose between Pakistan and terrorism. He reiterated the country’s resolve to continue targeting terrorist training camps and sanctuaries in Afghanistan until the menace was eradicated.
He urged the opposition to refrain from linking political differences with terrorist activities and noted that the prime minister had repeatedly invited the opposition to come to the negotiating table to resolve political issues.
Earlier, replying to a question during the Question-Hour, Tariq Fazal said the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) carried out off-loading strictly in accordance with the established procedures. He rejected reports of deportations of Pakistani citizens from any country, especially the United Arab Emirates.
